Monday double carryover at Saratoga came within a jump of a $1.4MM triple honeypot as Lostritto’s 26-1 You Take the Cake tried to stun the nightcap. The sequence paid a healthy $53k with the glaring single opportunities of Honorable Miss heroine Damce to Bristol and Revenue coming through for backers. Earlier, Irad Ortiz’ 2nd win DQ in 72 hours cleaned out a large number of tickets with Domino’s 15-2 Jade Run moving up. Hyman Roth and Bizarroworld started the sextet and were hardly shocking in the circle, but neither seemed better than 3rd, 4th or 5th in the pecking order of their respective contests and made ticket construction paramount. The fact that the Twin Players Players Pool’s $50k investment was knocked out after 3 races tells you how treacherous the endeavor turned out to be despite the two legs where you could narrow.

The Honorable Miss deserves special mention in Monday’s wake as Ollie Figgins remarkably game Dance to Bristol willed herself to the victory under Xavier Perez. The $42k Timonium 2yo purchase has been brilliantly handled by Figgins and offers inspiration to smaller outfits in the game. Del Mar starts the 3rd leg of the summer excursion with a juicy $261k carryover and it’s Whitney-Vanderbilt-Sales Week at the Spa..

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Jacobson fave Sovereign Default has pace edge on front end..

Most Likely: #4 Sovereign Default 9-5 2nd
Next Best: #1 Ea 5-2 5th
Best Value: #5 Sinorice 5-1 WON ($13.40)
Exotics Use: #2 Charlie’s Quest 3-1 6th

2nd: NY-MSW, F&M-3+, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

2nd out favorites just look better than those that have had chances..

Most Likely: #2 Hot Stones 9-5 WON ($3.60)
Next Best: #4 Gloria Victoria 2-1 3rd
Best Value: #3 Carla Sweetrevenge 5-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #7 Rock N Cozy 6-1 4th

3rd: MSW, F&M-3+, 9f-IT (P3, DD)

Just 7 line up but plenty tricky. Those with 4-6 starts, #’s 2-3-4-5, all look like the same filly. Stall’s Rare Penny and Mott’s Winning Scoop get on lawn for the first time and merit looks..

Best Value: #7 Rare Penny 4-1 7th
Next Best: #3 Caxambas Pass 3-1 WON ($11.40)
Exotics Use: #4 Neolexia 7-2 2nd
Super Add: #5 Doctor Vickie Lynn 5-1 5th

4th: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Team Klaravich running on all cylinders no matter which of their trainers send and C. Brown has 8-5 Thescreenisred as horse to beat here. Barrel of Love’s May/June pair give him a big chance here at what could be a square number..

Most Likely: #2 Thescreenisred 8-5 4th
Next Best: #5 Barrel of Love 4-1 2nd
Best Value: #6 Karakorum Elektra 5-1 WON ($25.60)
Exotics Use: #1 Margaret Lillian 6-1 8th

5th: NY-MSW, 2yo-F, 5.5f (P6, P3, DD)

Russell Cash comes up to Spa with NY bred Old Harbor that likely did exactly what he hoped getting experience while finishing 2nd at Monmouth for $40k in open company. Now runs v. own kind for $70k. Former Linda Rice assistant Abby Adsit has First Defense baby girl that has string of sharp morning efforts..

Most Likely: #7 Old Harbor 3-1 WON ($7.20)
Best Value: #5 Lavender Road 5-1 7th
Next Best: #2 Honeychild 4-1 4th
Exotics Use: #6 Molly Jordan 8-1 5th

<$50 P4 Play:

2: 2-4
3: 3-4-7
4: 1-2-5-6
5: 2-5-6-7

2x3x4x4 = 96 x .50 = $48

$0.50 Pick 4 (2/3/6/7) Paid $226.00

6th: 10th John’s Call, 3+, 13f-T (G/S, P3, DD)

Tom Voss (Royal Bench) trained the great John’s Call, tries to have a runner for this annually and has won it 2 of last 3 years. Being an import (IRE), Royal Bench fits another profile of the race (4 of 10 winners foreign bred). Mott/Alvarado return with Harrods Creek, the defending winner. In the 10 runnings of this race, 10 different jocks have been winners..

Best Value: #8 Royal Bench 8-1 7th
Next Best: #2 Hyper 5-2 WON ($5.40)
Exotics Use: #10 Harrods Creek 6-1 4th
Super Add: #4 Address Unknown 8-1 9th

7th: MSW, 2yo-F, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

Quilt is a full sister of Bind; Dancing House dropped by the outstanding Tout Charmant..

Best Value: #5 Reversiontothemean 6-1 7th
Next Best: #1 (POE) Dancing House 3-1 WON ($10.20)
Exotics Use: #6 Ocean Boulevard 7-2 4th
Super Add: #9 (AE) Malibu Angel SCR

8th: OC/N2X, F&M-3+, 9f-IT (P3, DD)

Rail filly dangerous alone on lead with savvy, under-appreciated lawn pilot..

Best Value: #1 Mariel N Kathy 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #2 Orion Moon 2-1 WON ($6.70)
Exotics Use: #6 Valiant Girl 7-2 6th
Super Add: #3 Viva Rafaela 5-2 4th

9th: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 9f (DD)

Sister Slate and Finesse are the pace players, Assured gets first run and Galloping Giraffe saves the ground for her late run..

Best Value: #1 Galloping Giraffe 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #8 Assured 8-5 4th
Exotics Use: #4 Sister Slate 7-2 WON ($11.20)
Super Add: #5 Finesse 5-1 7th

10th: CLM, D&M-3+, 5.5f-T

Most Likely: #7 Wellspring Legacy 5-2 3rd
Best Value: #10 Saropia 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #9 Imanindianoutlaw 4-1 5th
Exotics Use: #1 Chelsea Road 3-1 WON ($6.30)

<$50 P4 Play:

7: 1-5-6
8: 1-2-3-6
9: 1-4-5-8
10: 7-10

3x4x4x2 = 96 x .50 = $48

DEL MAR

POST-SCRATCHES

3rd: S/ALW, 3+, 1m (P6, P3, DD)

$261k C/O starts here..

Best Value: #4 Langfuhr’s Lightening 6-1 5th
Next Best: #5 Spring Up 5-2 WON ($5.20)
Exotics Use: #7 Magnum Force 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #2 Solid South 7-2 2nd

4th: CLM/N2L, 3+, 1m (P3, DD)

Best Value: #2 Hurry Home Clover 9-2 4th
Next Best: #10 Jay’s Firetruck 7-2 5th
Exotics Use: #6 Hy Danger 12-1 7th
Super Add: #4 Lite That Baby Up 9-2 2nd

5th: Cal-MSW, 3+, 8.5F-t (p4, p3, dd)

Most Likely: #4 Volkonsky 5-2 3rd
Best Value: #10 Wings of Mojave 15-1 7th
Next Best: #5 Red Globe 3-1 6th
Exotics Use: #7 Hotradamus 8-1 WON ($12.80)

6th: Cal-OC/N1X, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #3 Indian Classic 7-2 3rd
Next Best: #8 Morning Fog 3-1 4th
Best Value: #10 Bench Points 6-1 8th
Exotics Use: #5 Relentless Heat 5-1 5th

7th: Cal-Graduation, 2yo, 5.5f (DD)

Most Likely: #2 Solid Wager 4-1 5th
Best Value: #3 Betting McCann Can 8-1 7th
Next Best: #9 Willie B Awesome 3-1 6th
Exotics Use: #1 Gangnam Guy 9-2 3rd

8th: MCLM/$20k, F&M-3+, 6.5f (Super Hi-5)

Most Likely: #8 Athina Lee 5-2 WON ($4.40)
Next Best: #2 Party Bus 5-1 4th
Best Value: #6 Margies Rule 8-1 8th
Exotics Use: #5 Tap Tap Ur It 8-1 10th
Super/Hi-5: #12 Flaxen Maiden 5-1 2nd

<$100 P6 Play:

3: 4-5-7
4: 2-10
5: 4
6: 3
7: 1-2-3-9
8: 2-8

3x2x1x1x4x2 = 48 x $2 = $96

<$75 P4 Play:

5: 4-10
6: 3-8-10
7: 1-2-3-6-9
8: 2-5-6-8-12

2x3x5x5 = 150 x .50 = $75

Another wild Sunday produced 4 big prices and upended P6 tries which leaves the Week 2 epilogue with a $330k double carryover pot. It was hit or ‘miss’ early in the day as Miss Frost ($29.20) and Miss Lamour ($29.40) clicked in the 3rd/4th to help trip a $2,700 P4. The P6 was over quickly for most as $36 Meeker Avenue found his 2012 form and $69 Dissension dispatched nearly all players. Shockingly, one ticket was live to ‘trip last out’ Spin Chief for the pool, but Jimmy Jerkens’ Thingamajigger won well in the nightcap.

Got very little accomplished at the windows other than one decent P3 mid-card and was stung for several hundred by day’s end. Hope all did OK. It’s been a challenging weekend and there are no slam dunks Monday either. It is Bill Mott’s birthday, so there should be a winner between his offerings in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 8th or 9th!

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-IT (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #9 Madris 8-5 WON ($4.20)
Next Best: #5 Bashful Bandit 6-1 6th
Best Value: #6 Pyro City 5-1 4th
Exotics Use: #3 Out of Your Mind 30-1 9th

2nd: MSW, F&M-3+, 9f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Flores Island 3-1 2nd
Next Best: #3 Wedding Toast 5-2 WON ($5.30)
Best Value: #1 Miss Emilia 6-1 5th
Exotics Use: #5 Lunar Surge 6-1 3rd

3rd: MSW, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (P3, DD)

Very difficult group..

Most Likely: #4 Kiss Me Lola 4-1 WON ($7.50)
Best Value: #7 Wild One 10-1 6th
Next Best: #5 Quay 5-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #8 Liquid Lunch 12-1 9th

4th: OC/N3X, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Best Value: #1 (POE) Tech Fall 7-2 4th/2nd
Next Best: #3 Big Screen 6-5 5th
Exotics Use: #4 Cease 2-1 3rd

5th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-IT (P6, P3, DD)

$330k DBL C/O starts here..

Best Value: #1 Cashleigh 8-1 9th
Next Best: #9 River Boss 2-1 5th
Exotics Use: #5 One Golden Road 4-1 3rd
Super Add: #3 Popplestone 15-1 7th

<$50 P4 Play:

2: 3-6
3: 3-4-5-7-8
4: 1-3-4
5: 1-5-9

2x5x3x3 = 90 x .50 = $45

6th: NY-ALW/N1X, 3+, 5.5f-T (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #5 Dr Figawi 2-1 5th
Best Value: #7 Iron Power 8-1 6th
Next Best: #10 Count Knickerbocker 9-2 2nd
Exotics Use: #11 Bizarroworld 8-1 WON ($16.40)

7th: NY-OC/N1X, 3+, 9f (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #7 Sea to Sky 7-2 6th
Next Best: #3 Ultimate Empire 9-5 2nd-DQ’d from win
Best Value: #1 Ego Friendly 5-1 5th

8th: Honorable Miss (G2), F&M-3+, 6f (P3, DD)

What a job Ollie Figgins has done with Dance to Bristol. A $42k Timonium purchase, now 16/8-7-0 for $500k..

Most Likely: #4 Dance to Bristol 5-2 WON ($3.70)
Next Best: #6 Glorious View 4-1 7th
Best Value: #3 Classic Point 10-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #1 Livi Makenzie 5-1 6th

9th: CLM, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (DD)

Most Likely: #9 Revenue 5-2 WON ($5.50)
Best Value: #11 Bullet Baby 12-1 5th
Next Best: #12 Caribbean Lady 3-1 6th
Exotics Use: #4 Nice Stuff 4-1 2nd

10th: NY-MCLM/$20k, F&M-3+, 6f

Best Value: #4 Late SCR
Next Best: #6 Typhoon Teri 3-1 WON ($6.70)
Exotics Use: #11 Ferritto 8-1 7th
Super Add: #8 Light Weight 12-1 8th

<$150 P6 Play:

5: 1-5-9
6: 5-7-10
7: 3-7
8: 4
9: 9
10: 4/SCR–6-8-11

3x3x2x1x1x4 = 72 x $2 = $144

<$50 P4 Play:

7: 1-3-7
8: 4-6
9: 9-11-12
10: 4/SCR–6-8-9-11

3x2x3x5 = 90 x .50 = $45

Beautiful day at the Spa Saturday and a great afternoon of action on the ovals. We saw a Belmont winner follow up successfully, something that few others have in recent memory, as well as upset thrillers in the Prioress and Diana. Palace Malice was sharp and convincing in his follow up to the Belmont, while Moreno supported his Dwyer effort admirably. Will Take Charge, and to a lesser extent Bashaar, did well to close on a strip that was very kind to the speed by that point of the day. Second choice Mylute was awful, never mounting a run.

Laughing was one of the day’s pluses on the capping front as Alan Goldberg and Rich Santulli were rewarded with a G1 win with the 5yo mare who was indomitable on the lead under Jose Lezcano. The hard to pass mare buried Centre Court and had enough left in the stretch to turn back Dream Peace, getting the last three-eighths in a stunning :34.4.

Went in to the Prioress eager to beat Kauai Katie and appeared to have done it with Wildcat Lily until George Weaver’s Lighthouse Bay slipped through on the rail courtesy of a terrific ride by Joe Rocco Jr. The G1 was Weaver’s first on U.S. soil, his only other with the same client, the Pollard’s Richlyn Farm and their Saratoga County in Dubai in the 2005 Golden Shaheen. While the winner’s effort was admirable, Wildcat Lily’s try was too good to lose. Manny Azpurua’s Calder/Gulfstream-based filly went :22.1, :22.4, :24.2 (:12/:12.2), rebuffing every challenge. She’ll come back to New York to try the Test.

It wasn’t much of a day at the windows overall, as Lighthouse Bay, Plainview and Richmond County all broke up momentum on multis. Hope everyone did OK. Carryover of nearly $100k on the very tricky Sunday card. Haskell and its’ supporting slate on the Jersey Shore today…

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

WITH LIGHT RAIN EARLIER, MAIN WAS SEALED; COULD YIELD TO SPEED

1st: Sir Cat, 3yo, 1m-IT (P3, DD)

Joha may benefit from speed-aiding lawn, but I think he’s a play-against..

Best Value: #2 Bellarmine 6-1: MDN break at KEE; Turf should work.. 4th
Next Best: #6 Play It Loud 5-2: Strong return in G3 Hill Prince last.. 7th
Exotics Use: #1 Winning Cause 7-2 WON ($9.20)
Super Add: #3 One More Cat 10-1 3rd

2nd: MSW, 2yo-F, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Turf babies and as usual, a bit of a guessing game. Similar heat for boys Saturday produced Stall’s 2nd out winner Base Case Scenario, McPeek’s hype-heavy Stroll to Victory and well meant C. Brown-Ramsey Kitten. Not hard to approach this with same kind of runners..

Most Likely: #1 Macaroon 5-1 8th
Next Best: #10 Granny Mc’s Kitten 2-1 2nd
Best Value: #2 Rau Breck 10-1 4th
Exotics Use: #6 Murmure 7-2 7th

3rd: ALW/N1X, F&M-3+, 8.5f-T (P3, DD)

Terrific betting affair. Enchanting Lisa (Wise Dan/Successful Dan half sis) is going to be heavily bet from difficult post..

Most Likely: #4 Riolama 4-1 7th
Best Value: #5 Town Flirt 15-1 9th
Next Best: #1e Pompa ownership entry 7-2 2nd/4th
Exotics Use: #9 Enchanting Lisa 2-1 3rd

4th: MCLM/$25k, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

What to do with Repole’s $350k yearling buy fiasco So Outspoken being given away here and trying dirt first time?

Best Value: #7 Let the Cat Out 8-1 6th
Next Best: #4 Barrister Jim 3-1 WON ($6.30)
Exotics Use: #5 So Outspoken 5-1 2nd
Super Add: #3 Great Call 5-1 3rd

5th: NY-MSW, 3+, 9f-IT (P3, DD)

Impossibly deep and contentious conclusion to difficult early quad. Entire field is separated by 2-3 lengths..

Most Likely: #5 Grahamandwithers 5-1 2nd
Best Value: #11 Oklahoma Den 12-1 7th
Next Best: #3 Irish Jade 3-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #7 Raffies Bay 10-1 4th
Super Add: #10 Professor Chaos 20-1

<$75 P4 Play:

2: 1-10
3: 1-4-5-9
4: 4-5-7
5: 3-5-7-8-10-11

2x4x3x6 = 144 x .50 = $72

6th: CLM, 3+, 5.5f-T (P6, P3, DD)

$98k P6 C/O starts here..

First of 3 $20k claimers that make this sequence especially treacherous..

Most Likely: #8 Storm Pursuit 6-1 WON ($10.20)
Next Best: #1 Sky Lover 2-1 5th
Best Value: #2 Turn Up the Music 12-1 7th
Exotics Use: #11 Freud’s Debut 6-1 6th

7th: CLM, 3+, 7f (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 August Osage 4-1 5th
Next Best: ##3 Hey Leroy 3-1 4th
Best Value: #10 Splittin’ Wood 12-1 11th
Exotics Use: #13 Cape Glory 5-1 12th

8th: CLM, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Best Value: #9 Rosie My Way 20-1 8th
Next Best: #7 Rodinia 7-2 4th
Exotics Use: #1 Time On My Hands 6-1 5th
Super Add: #3 Colorme Kitten 10-1 3rd

9th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Midnight Taboo 2-1 4th
Next Best: #4 Cary Street 4-1 7th
Exotics Use: #7 Norumbega 9-5 WON ($7.10)
Super Add: #2 Cap the Moment 15-1 5th

10th: 20th Amsterdam (G2), 3yo, 6.5f (DD)

Pletcher has won this twice in recent years with Quality Road and Discreetly Mine and pace scenario appears to give edge to Forty Tales here. Looks like pundits are standing against undefeated Jersey-bred Rainbow Heir, but I think the team that brought you his sire Wildcat Heir know where they are and what they’re doing. Mico Margarita sat ideal trip at Summit of Speed and Wildcat Lily validated Calder form yesterday with fallant run in Prioress. Zito out for blood with Declan’s Warrior who was bitterly denied in Woody Stephens. Mentor Cane has to negotiate tricky rail draw. Good edition of this King’s Bishop prep..

Best Value: #6 Rainbow Heir 4-1 6th
Next Best: #2 Forty Tales 2-1 WON ($7.30)
Exotics Use: #3 Declan’s Warrior 5-2 5th
Super Add: #7 Mico Margarita 5-1 2nd

10th: NY-MCLM/$20k, 3+, 6f

Rag tag bunch with 5-6 looking more eligible than rest..

Most Likely: #9 Spin Chief 6-1 5th
Next Best: #3 Thingamajigger 9-2 WON ($10.40)
Exotics Use: #7 Without Regard 3-1 –
Best Value: #6 Purple Pico 15-1 –
Super Add: #4 My Teddy Bear 8-1 6th

<$150 P6 Play:

6: 1-2-8
7: 3-4
8: 1-7-9
9: 1-4
10: 6
11: 3-9

3x2x3x2x1x2 = 72 x $2 = $144

<$75 P4 Play:

8: 1-3-7-9-12
9: 1-4
10:2-3-6
11: 3-4-6-7-9

5x2x3x5 = 150 x .50 = $75

Though both P4’s ended up with smallish returns ($70 early; $90 late), my ham-handed effort building tickets left the breakeven money on the table. Had way too much confidence in Howie’s Tiz (3rd) and not enough in Mitch Friedman’s Read the Research (4th) as the single/spread approach needed to be reversed in that middle portion of the quad. Later, though losing favorite Quiet Ending to the gate scratch took a major option away, there was still no excuse for omitting Ward-Smith winner To My Valentine as an include in the open turf sprint 9th. It was a beautiful afternoon at the Spa but there wasn’t much sunshine at the windows overall. Diana-Prioress-Jim Dandy Saturday and it should be a terrific day..

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: OC/S-ALW, 4+, 9f (P3, DD)

Have plenty of respect for Caixa Electronica, but there are several here (Point Taken, Tuvia’s Force, Magic Harbor especially) capable of beating him with their best or close to it..

Best Value: #3 Point Taken 5-1 5th
Next Best: #2 Caixa Electronica 8-5 WON ($3.30)
Exotics Use: #5 Tuvia’s Force 8-1 2nd
Super Add: #6 Indy’s Scent 20-1 8th

2nd: MSW, 2yo, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

As discussed Friday with Nick Tammaro & Mike Welsch, a seemingly open baby race going two turns on the lawn. Nick is looking to the Chad Brown side of the Kitten entry and with Rosario double-named, only one runs. Note you will get an added bonus of Maker’s 1x Bold Visionary when either Kitten SCR’s. Welsch likes the way McPeek’s Stroll to Victory has worked leading up to the debut and I think Susan Cooley’s 20-1 Nice Way has a license to excel with the turf and stretchout move being out of Wheatley Way. Fun race. Watch board for added clues..

Most Likely: #1a Bobby’s Kitten 5-2 3rd
Best Value: #7 Nice Way 20-1 9th
Next Best: #5 Stroll to Victory 6-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #2 Best Case Scenario 3-1 WON ($8.20)

3rd: MSW, 2yo, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #6 Sky Drama 5-2 4th
Next Best: #3 Twang 3-1 WON ($4.50)
Exotics Use: #4 Justin Nguyen 12-1 2nd

4th: MSW, 3+, 9.5f-T (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Supreme Commander 7-2 8th
Best Value: #2 Parnelli 5-1 2nd
Next Best: #6 Unitarian 5-2 WON ($6.10)
Exotics Use: #8 Mr. Jenny 8-1 3rd

5th: 11th Proiress (G1), 3yo-F, 6f (P3, DD)

Kauai Katie certainly your likely winner, but be very aware of the So. FL shipper Wildcat Lily who showed tremendous tenacity annexing the Azalea. So Many Ways turns back on strip where she opened her career with 2 wins and Irish Lute could be the beneficiary of a meltdown..

Most Likely: #7 Kauai Katie 1-1 6th
Best Value: #2 Wildcat Lily 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 So Many Ways 3-1 4th
Exotics Use: #1 Irish Lute 10-1 3rd

<$50 P4 Play:

2: 1-2-5-7
3: 3-6
4: 1-2-6-8
5: 2-5-7

4x2x4x3 = 96 x .50 = $48

6th: CLM, 3+, 6f (P6, P3, DD)

Wild 14 horse sprint and surprisingly little raw speed signed on. Castellano had been on pacesetter Perfect Trippi last 4 starts, yet agent Musiker opts here for equally quick-ish Shankopotomus. The pair could duel. Jacobson excels in these events and offers rock solid Alcomatch and ouchy Equivocation here. Veteran Laysh Laysh Laysh goes first time Ness and adds hustling Saez. One notable price idea here may be Butch Reid’s Billy One Lite. It costs money to ship here from Philadelphia and with plenty of options in PA and MD, savvy Reid comes here looking for a share of the $40k purse..

Most Likely: #2 Laysh Laysh Laysh 6-1 11th
Best Value: #5 Billy One Lite 15-1 6th
Exotics Use: #3 Alcomatch 4-1 WON ($8.90)
Super Add: #7 Shankopotamus 8-1 2nd

7th: ALW/N1X, 3+, 8.5f-IT (G/S, P3, DD)

Balthazar (Romans) and King Balthasar (KMc) end up in the same race. ML choice Favor Factor isn’t any better than the next half dozen here. That was a very nice return to the races for Donk’s Indy Sea after nearly 14 months away..

Most Likely: #2 Indy Sea 9-2 4th
Best Value: #6 Lead Singer 15-1 5th
Next Best: #10 Box Office 10-1 10th
Exotics Use: #4 Balthazar 10-1 2nd

8th: OC/N2X, 3+, 8.5f-T (P4, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #2 Sachem Spirit 4-1 3rd
Best Value: #4 Majestic Raffy 10-1 6th
Next Best: #8 Film Shot 3-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #5 Kris Royal 5-1 10th

9th: 75th Diana (G1), 3+, 9f-IT (P3, DD)

Departure of Dayatthespa makes Laughing that much more eligible for an upset here..

Most Likely: #2 Stephanie’s Kitten 8-5 3rd
Best Value: #4 Laughing 12-1 WON ($15.80)
Next Best: #5 Centre Court 5-2 5th

10th: 50th Jim Dandy (G2), 3yo, 9f (DD)

Excellent assembly for this traditional Travers prep and with at least 4 pacesetters or prompters involved, sure feels likely to invite a closer or two to visit late. Dan Peitz’ Shadwell colt has the most upside of the off pace runners and will save all the ground..

Best Value: #1 Bashaar 15-1 4th
Next Best: #5 Palace Malice 5-2 WON ($5.70)
Exotics Use: #2 Code West 6-1 5th
Super Add: #8 Mylute 7-2 8th

11th: CLM, 3+, 5.5f-T

Most Likely:: #10 Christiesborntorun 7-2 4th
Best Value: #9 Shmooz Talker 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #6 Yield Bogey 4-1 –
Exotics Use: #5 Brown Indian 8-1 –

<$75 P4 Play:

8: 2-4-8
9: 2-4
10: 1-2-5-8
11: 3-5-6-9-10

3x2x4x5 = 120 x .50 = $60

Lost the complete recap and don’t have time to repeat it, but suffice to say Thursday provided a rebound from Wednesday’s misguided attack of the Saratoga carryover card. Late P4 ($289), big 6th-8th P3 ($281) and Quick Call tri ($195) drove the afternoon high into the plus column after I botched the early quad omitting Clear Pasaj (a horse I like a lot) out of the plays. Hope everyone did well. Nice Friday action east and west ahead of a weekend that is threatened slightly by weather concerns..

SARATOGA

POST-SCRATCHES

1st: OC/$100k, 3+, 6f (P3, DD)

There’s nothing scary about the favorites and Saturday’s Charm will get a nice pace set up here..

Most Likely: #2 Saturday’s Charm 4-1 2nd
Next Best: #3 Currency Swap 5-2 3rd

2nd: CLM, F&M-3+, 6f (P4, P3, DD)

A lot of hungry types dropping down here..

Most Likely: #6 Seven Dreams 4-1 4th
Best Value: #7 Unbroken Dream 12-1 8th
Next Best: #9 Tanglewood Tale 5-1 WON ($17.40)
Exotics Use: #5 Revealing Moment 5-1 2nd

3rd: MSW, 3+, 9f (P3, DD)

Anderson still believes as Rosario sticks and Howie’s Tiz should like the 9 panels. Zito judicious with addition of the hood and Dyker Beach may be ideal candidate..

Most Likely: #6 Howie’s Tiz 7-2 5th
Next Best: #4 Dyker Beach 4-1 4th
Best Value: #2 King of Broadway 6-1 2nd
Exotics Use: #5 Sliver and Onions 3-1 WON ($7.50)

4th: OC/S-ALW, F&M-3+, 6f (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1 Read the Research 7-5 WON ($3.60)
Next Best: #2 Currency Union 6-1 2nd
Best Value: #4 Run a Dubb Dubb 20-1 7th
Exotics Use: #3 Nothing But Air 4-1 3rd

5th: NY-MSW, F&M-3+, 9f-IT (P6, P3, DD)

Wildly intriguing group of state bred maidens featuring prices drawn well inside and eligible to set off fireworks..

Best Value: #6 Hooked Again 30-1 8th
Next Best: #3 Sophie’s Turn 6-1 6th
Exotics Use: #5 SCR
Super Add: #8 Sakonnet Point 15-1 2nd

<$75 P4 Play:

2: 6-7-9
3: 6
4: 1-2-3-4
5: 1-2-3-4-5/SCR-6-8-10

3x1x4x8 = 96 x .50 = $48

6th: MCLM/$50k, 3+, 8.5f-T (G/S, P3, DD)

Most Likely: #4 Bernie’s Best 3-1 6th
Best Value: #2 Gridiron Great 6-1 7th
Next Best: #1a Ella’s Kitten 4-1 3rd
Exotics Use: #8 Present Course 5-1 4th

7th: CLM, F&M-3+, 8.5f-IT (P4, P3, DD)

Ugly group..

Most Likely: #1 Centrina 7-2 WON ($10.40)
Best Value: #2 Delightful Dawn 5-1 3rd
Next Best: #5 Ten K Cat 4-1 4th
Exotics Use: #8 G. A. Empress 20-1 6th

8th: Curlin, 3yo, 9g (P3, DD)

Most Likely: #1e Darley entry 5-2 WON ($4.80)/DQ’d-5th
Best Value: #3 Bad Hombre 6-1 2nd
Next Best: #5 Proud Strike 3-1 4th
Exotics Use: #7 Edge of Reality 4-1 3rd

9th: OC/N1X, F&M-3+, 5.5f-T (DD)

Fun turf sprint group..

Most Likely: #4 Late SCR-Gate
Best Value: #9 Tiz Teresa 10-1 2nd
Next Best: #7 Lawless Miss 8-1 4th
Exotics Use: #2 Jonata 20-1 5th
Super Add: #10 Sweet N Discreet 10-1 3rd

10th: CLM, 3+, 8.5f-IT

Next Best: #11 Coach Royal 2-1 WON ($5.70)
Exotics Use: #6 Shertzer 7-2 8th
Best Value: #9 Mr Algebra 5-1 3rd
Super Add: #4 Griffin Rock 8-1 4th

<$75 P4 Play:

7: 1-2-5
8: 1-3
9: 2-4/SCR-7-9-10
10: 4-6-9-11-12

3x2x5x5 = 150 x .50 = $75